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Donovan McNabb could run two-minute drill if he heals, Mike Shanahan says

Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb would run the two-minute offense for the Redskins after the bye week if he heals well from his numerous injuries, Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday at Redskins Park.

During his regularly scheduled media availability, Shanahan provided a more-detailed explanation about his stunning decision to bench McNabb, a six-time Pro Bowler, in favor of backup Rex Grossman with 1 minute 50 seconds remaining in Sunday's 37-25 loss against the Detroit Lions.

Immediately after the game at Ford Field, Shanahan said he made the move because Grossman, who played in the Shanahan-designed offense last season with the Houston Texans, was more familiar with the terminology than McNabb and gave Washington "the best chance to win in that scenario."

On Monday, however, Shanahan said McNabb was suffering from a variety of injuries that also played a major factor in the late-game switch.

But if McNabb regains his strength during the team's time off, he would run the two-minute offense in Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field. "Yeah," Shanahan said. "Without a question."

Slowed by those injuries, McNabb has not practiced the two-minute offense (which Shanahan defined as a drive that must take the team the length of the field to score with no timeouts) since the 30-16 loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 3. "Donovan did an excellent job," Shanahan said. Washington, however, also ran the two-minute offense for one play - McNabb's pass was intercepted - in the 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6.

"Donovan's been hampered with hamstring injuries, quad injuries some contusions down there," Shanahan said. "Even earlier [last] week [on Tuesday], I sat down with Donovan and I talked to Donovan about possibly sitting out this game, after talking with our trainers, because of his hamstring injuries.

"He could not get the work that I would like him to get; he wasn't going to be able to go full speed in a lot of our drills [in practice], a lot of our plays. I called Donovan in the office, and I said, 'Hey, the thing I want to make sure, in the second half of the season, you're ready to go. Are you sure you want to be able to play in this game?"

McNabb said he wanted to play, so Shanahan let him play. Shanahan did not reveal the health component of his decision Sunday because "I didn't want to really go into a lot of detail about that. You go into game situations, you're a little disappointed. You don't have to go into a lot of detail, which I think you can understand."

Shanahan said he understands that his decision has stirred controversy.

"I understand what you go through when you do something like that," he said. "And I don't mind explaining to you why I made the decision. Now with saying that, I'm not happy with where we're at offensively. As I told Donovan, I said, 'Hey, you got a ways to go, our offensive line's got a ways to go, and our receivers, collectively, our coaching staff, we're not happy where we're at. But it's definitely not the reason why I went that direction in the two-minute offense."

The most telling part of thr presser was when MS was asked about who he talked to in regard to running the 2 minute drill. I'm paraphrasing here but I believe he said he spoke to some folks on the coaching staff but didn't want to specify who or else 'that would open up pandora's box'.
I think Kyle was the one who lost confidence in Dmac and asked to pull him. MS sided with Kyle and now looks like a fool...

As I told Donovan, I said, 'Hey, you got a ways to go, our offensive line's got a ways to go, and our receivers, collectively, our coaching staff, we're not happy where we're at. But it's definitely not the reason why I went that direction in the two-minute offense.

The Vikes cut Moss for financial reasons, they are IN PAIN because of Favre's human shortcomings and lack of foresight of same...They are falling short at mid-season, and Brett's injuries are piling on..Doesn't matter WHO the WRs are, Brett's f***ed...So cut money losses and waive Randy...

1. DM is "professional" about not going off with the benching shti but how "professional" has he been in learning the playbook, the 2 min drill and the no huddle O?

2. It wasn't just a 2nd rounder, it was a top of the round 2nd rounder, which isn't that much diff from a backend 1st rounder.

3. Which was worse. The high 2nd rounder the Skins coughed up to rent DM for a year versus the 3rd rounder the Vikes coughed up to rent RM for 2 games in which he didn't do too much?

Posted by: SonOfStan

You can't possibly believe that DM didn't know the 2 minute offense. Which Shanny story are you buying. The one from yesterday that said he didn't know the 2 minute offense or the one from today when he said it was because of injuries?

While I could care less about the Vikes, I will admit that to cut Moss after giving up a 3rd rounder is nuts. Belicheat gets over again!

At least the monster game Grandpa Galloway had will make people see the wisdom of ditching DT. DT was another of those guys who couldn't learn the playbook. How is it that other teams are able to use these guys?

Let's face it. Hiring Shanahan seemed like a smart move, but he has some serious shortcomings in the judgment area. One or two, I give him the benefit of the doubt, but his screwups are piling up faster than Redskin losses. The AH fiasco, cutting DT, cutting MM, benching Dock in favor of Letemrunoverme, now humiliating the team's supposed franchise QB. We are going to end up blowing two high picks on a one year rental of McNabb. Why would even he consider signing here now? I fully expect a Portis extension for megabucks any day.

Can't believe how many people want to sign Moss without even asking what happened. He just got canned by two teams that need wide help. I think the guy may have finally lost the rest of what was left of his marbles. It looks like Belicheat really fleeced Childress on this one.

Oh and, btw, Shanny doesn't play wides who don't block. But apparently he has no problem playing crappy wides who do.

Well, I've been waiting to get your perspective on the events from yesterday. Since you believe Shanny knows best and always makes the right call. Are you buying that explanation? What does it say about this staff that their "franchise" guy doesn't know the 2 minute offense?

And the best part, talk to me about Shanny's claim about DMs conditioning.

Posted by: dcwun | November 1, 2010 6:22 PM

We were outplayed, outcoached, and without BB16 we would have never been in the game.

McNabb was terrible yesterday but the coaching was some of the worst I've seen in the last 10 years.

Spurrier/Zorn would be laughing at these 4 decisions.

1. Going for 2 with 12 mins left and the lead
2. Up 5, with 4 mins left and calling a pass play (the call was BAD but the throw by McNabb was WORSE)
3. Going for it with over 2 mins left and two TOs (essentially gave the Lions 3 pts)
4. Pulling McNabb (who made some plays with his feet, but was terrible) with the game still in the balance for Rex F'ing Grossman.

Still 4-4 though, and if we beat the Eagles in 2 weeks, we'll be back in contention.

B. Shanahan vs. a career malcontent like AH is a no-brainer. Shanahan vs. an established leader like McNabb causes you to take pause. It's OK to get all tough guy on a guy who steps outta line like AH. But by all appearances, McNabb is one of the good guys. Publicly humiliating him is not only unnecessary, it's cutting off your nose to spite your face.

AH was something he walked into so he almost gets a pass for that. But McNabb was supposed to be his guy. That's his prize offseason acquisition. To tear him down only halfway thru his first season here is either amazingly stupid or mindbogglingly arrogant. I vote a combination of both...

"Well, it was a combination of factors... His hamstrings had been bothering him. And Rex Grossman is pretty much awesome. And he threw into triple coverage and took a sack on 4th down.

But, it was really not a big deal. I mean, I made no mistakes. You can rest assured of that. Ever. Did I mention that? I have never made a mistake? OK, good. I wanted to make sure that got across clearly, because I'm really smart. Did I mention I won Super Bowls? Yeah, out in Denver. We won two of them, so... Yeah, I'm pretty smart. It's my way or the highway, pal. That's just how it is.

But, that had nothing to do with it. It was more based upon a chat I had with the trainer. So, I'm right. No big deal. It's all good."

McNabb is all we have and if your paying any attention at all, we don't have much! He is so over rated as a passer..Always has been. He was at his best when he was younger and was able to scare you running with the ball. Make him throw to beat you and he struggles. I have never been a fan of his and just because he now wears my teams uniform, it hasn't changed my opinion. Philly let him go because his skills had significantly diminished. We grabbed him based on reputation and a hope that he had something left in the tank. Well....McNabb is the same guy that Philly let go. No better and another year older. We have all kinds of problems on offense (and some on defense as well), but QB is definitely still one of them. In the NFL, you need a QB to be better than NcNabb has played this year. Period.

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